St. Landry democrat., 1887-08-20

selves in our blankets We felt sure that
we had happened upon an old Spanish MN
! ing town, the people Of which had, nun
dred years or more before, been either
| slaughtered or driven out by hostile savages
We hoped to find near the place great and
rich mines. 1t seemed to us that our for
| tunes were as good as made.
At what hour we fell asleep L do not
know, but shortly after midnight we were
awakened by the furious changing OF large
bell Instantly we were upon our feet.
"My Godn cried I, "what is this?' hardly
knowing whether I was awake or still asleep
and dreaming.
ok,-look at the town." cried Arthur.
Turning toward the ruins, ! saw lights
flashing to and fro-lights i'll the streets,
lights in the windows, and lights IN the
doors of hundred houses. Dong, dong
boom, boom ~ went the bell, and the sound
rolled and echoed through all the noun
tainS.
Loud cries then began to be heard in the
town, and a rumbling and rushing noise as
of the running to and fro of many persons,
while above all were heard shouts as OF men
in command.
Soon rang out the wild yells of savages. 1t
was the war-cry of such numbers that the
sounds arising from the town were quite
drowned; only the steady Dong, dong,
dong. dong of the bell could be heard
above the uprOar
Now began to be heard. thick and fast, the
reports of muskets, and presently came the
roar of a cannon, the report of which crashed
and echoed from side to side among the
cliffs waling in the valley. The very noun
tans seemed shaken.
So astounded and bewildered were both
Arthur and myself at this sudden activity
and previous outbreak in and about the
ruined town below, that for a time we were
unable to collect our scattered wits. we
could utter nothing but EXPLANATIONS OF as
constituent and alarm.
At last-.sWhat is it? What can all this
mean?' cried ], hardly knowing what sald
God knows what ~ said Arthur, but 1t IS
evident that fearful battle going on down
there. just hear those Indian devils yell!
They are being well peppered, though. Fltty.
musket shots have been fired in the last halt
minute, and there-there goes the cannon
again That shot told what howl the tlends
sent up! They must have got dose of grape
that time"
And" said I, chose muskets, too-they
must be telling terribly! Why, the town can
not esuch a ruin as it looked. See, see there
are lights flashing everywhere
There are indeed, :" said Arthur. 81 cannot
certainly appeared, at this distance to be
quite dilap1dated-a mere cluster of ruins.
II must be that this old mining town has re
Gently been discovered by Mexicans and
that colony Of them havejust arrived here
tonight
1T must be so. and we are too Late said
I, sadlv-"the Mexcans will claim all. 1t
is a cruel thing to say, but would not
much care were the Indians to kill all in the
place. The savages have certainly shown
good sense in attacking the intruders before
they had time to mend the walls and put the
place in repair-in fighting trim. That was
a well-delivered volley. Those muskets are
in cool hands. What howl of rage and
despair the savages sent up After the
fight had ragged IN this way for over an hour,
and after the cannon had been discharged
many times-apparently from several differ
ent point~-the yelling of the Indians sud
denly ce,t>e,i. FIR half an hour all was
silent below. even the steady changing Of